Electrical control apparatus



C. SCHWARTZ.

. ELECTRICAL CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 27, l9l8.

Patented July 11, 1922;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN VE N TOR C. SCHWARTZ.

ELECTRICAL CONTROL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 19l8.

1,422,625. Patented July 11, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.INVE/VTOR BY 5 ///6' A TTOR/VEVS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL SCHWARTZ, on NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, AssIeNoR. T0 vnron can HEATING ,GOMIEANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.', A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL CONTROL APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern Westchester, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Control Apparatus, of

which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to electrical apparatus whereby a relatively heavy or main circuit can be automatically controlled by the openingv and closing of a main switch controlled by a relay, the latter in turn being controlled by an initial switch.

According to the apparatus which is the basis of the present invention the main switch is constructed so that each time the relay, is brought into operation by the closingof the initial switch the main switch will be positioned not only so as to control the desired opening-or closing of the main circuit, as the case may be, but also so as to effect a disrupting of the circuitthat includes the initial switch, to wit, the relay circuit, whereby the flow of current through the initial switch will be disrupted and thus the initial switch be relieved of its function upto the time it is ready for making contact on the opposite side.

Specification of Letters Patent.

In one form of the invention the initial 1 switch has a thermostatically controlled movable contact that can be brought into operative engagement with either-of two stationary contacts, dependent upon temperature conditions. One of these stationary contacts is included in one of the relay circuits for moving the main switch in one direction and the other of said stationary contacts is included in another relay circuit for moving the main switch in the reverse direction when the temperature rises a predetermined amount. The constructiomhowever, is such that immediately after a completion of the circuit by the thermostatically controlled movable contact member the electrical means which is thus caused'to be operated in turn causes the main switch to be moved in a manner to disrupt the electrical circuit thus closed by the thermostatically controlled movable contact member and also the. desired control as to opening and closing by the main switch of a main circuit.

' Patented July 11 1922;

Application filed February 27, 1918. Serial No. 219,368.

' According to some forms in which the invention may be embodied, each time the main switch isclosed it serves to disrupt one main circuit and to establish another main circuit. However, it will be understood that there may be only one main circuit employed and the main; switch may be moved to one position to complete the main circuit and it may also be moved from the lastmentioned position" to a position where the main circuit is necessarily open.

The main circuits may be employed to 1 supply energy for causing or for efiecting a positioning of any desired member, which position is dependent upon the closing of the initial switch.

In the construction shown the main switch I comprises a movable contact and a plurality of stationary contacts with which the movable contact .may be brought into engagement when caused to do so by the electrical means controlledby the initial switch. The electrical means just referred to causes the movable contact member to start moving from one stationary contact member to the other dependent upon-which of two electrical circuits is closed by theinitial switch. The final portion of the movement of the 'movable contact member into engagement with the stationary contact is accomplished or assisted by means of a spring member that comes into play the instant the movable con-,

tact member passes a dead center.

The invention is directedto the features of construction above referred to aswell a to other features hereinafter clearly described and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

As illustrating certain specific embodiments of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in

ingsv Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view 1l l1 1strating the manner in which an initial switch controls the positioning of a main switch that is in turn employed to'control only a single main circuit.

Figu trating the manner in which an initial switch controls the positioning of a mainswitch that is in turn employed to control two main circuits.

Fi ure 3 is a plan view of the mam switc construction including the main re 2' is a diagrammatic view illusswitch is provided with a movable contact member 3 and two stationary contact members 4 and 5. The movablecontact member can be readily positioned by hand or it can be constructed so as to be thermostatically controlled.

In the construction shown this movable contact member 3.is in the form of a strip composed of two layers of different' metals 3 and 3 respectively and one end of the strip is fixed at 3 so that as the temperature is either raised or lowered, the free end 3 will engage respectively the stationary contactmember 4 or 5. The movable contact member 3 of the initial switch is therefore specifically a thermostatically controlled movable contact member whereby the closing of the switch is dependent upon temperature conditions to WlllCll the thermostatically controlled movable contact member is exposed. The main switch 2 has a movable contact member 6 and two stationary contacts 7 and 8 respectively. The movable contact member 6 is pivotally mounted at 6 upon a support or frame member 9 of insulating material and is maintained at all times in operative engagement with one or the other of the stationary contact members 7 or 8 by means of a spring 10, except when the movable contact member 6 is being moved out of engagement with one contact and into engagement with the other contact, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The spring 10 is a compression spring and one end thereof presses against the lower end of the movable contact member 6 while the other end thereof presses against an abutment 11 on the support or frame member 9.

In the construction shown in Figures 3v and 4 this abutment 11 is in the form of a bracket that is secured in place by screws 12. There is provided for the main switch a pair of coils 13, 14 each of which may be referred to' as a main switch operating or main switch positioning coil. In many instances, both in this specification and in the appended claims, applicant refers to each of these coils as a solenoid coil and hence this expression is to be broadly construed to cover either what is technically known as a solenoid, an electro-magnet, or a relay since as far as this invention is concerned they are all the electrical equivalents of each other. In some instances these coils are herein broadly referred to, both in the specification and in the claims, as electrical means for controlling the position of the movable contact member 6 of the main switch. Each tained by means of a pin 21 on the member 17 and which pin is located between spaced pins 22 and 23 on the movable contact member 6. The member 17 is herein referred to as the main switch actuating means. Said member 17, the movable contact member 6 of the main switch and its associated parts constitute what may be referred to as electrically controlled movable contact mechanism, said mechanism being under the electrical control of the initial switch, as will hereinafter appear.

One function of the main switch is to control, as has been previously indicated, the opening and closing of one or more circuits which may be arbitrarily referred to as a main circuit or main circuits. In Figure 1 there is indicated only one of such main circuits-circuit Xwhereas in Figure 2 there are indicated two such main circuits-circuits X and Y. If the main switch parts occupy the dotted line positionshown in Figure 1 the main circuit X may be traced as follows:

Source of electrical supply S, terminal 24:, conductor 25, 26, connecting post 27, conductor 28, movable contact member 6, stationary contact member 8, conductor 30, connecting post 31, conductor 32, 33, 34, 35, electrically operated mechanism M, conductors 36, 37, 38, 39, and terminal 40 back to the other side of the source of electrical supply S.

If the .main switch parts occupy the full line position shown in Figure 1 then this main circuit is broken because the movable contact member 6 is out of engagement with the stationary contact member 8.

Referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that the main switch controls two main circuits X and Y. Circuit X includes the electrically operated mechanism M while circuit Y includes the electrically operated mechanism N. Circuit X of Figure 2 is the same as circuit X of Figure 1 and the same reference characters have been applied in each of said figures and a further description thereof at this time is unnecessary. The circuit X of Figure 2 is completed when the main switch parts occupy the dotted line position shown in said figure. The Y circuit is completed when the main switch parts occupy the full line position shown in Figure 2.,

When the main switch is in full line position the ,Y circuit may be traced as follows: Source pf electrical supply S,terminal 24, conductors 25, 26, connecting post27, conductor 28, movable contact 6, stationary contact 7, conductor 41, connecting post 42,

conductors 43, 44, electrically operated mechanism N, conductors 45, 46, 39, 40, back to the other side of the source of electrical supply S.

It will thus be seen that when the main switch is moved from full line position to the dotted line position of Figure 2 it thus opens Y circuit and completes the X circuit whereby the electrically operated mechanism M within the latter circuit can bey caused to operate. Reversely, when the movable contact mem- I her 6 of the main switch moves from the dotted position to the full line position of Flgure 2 it first opens the main circuit and subsequently closes the main circuit Y. whereby the electrically operated mechanism N that is within thelatter circuit can be caused to operate. If the movable contact 3 of the initial switch is moved so as to engage the stationary contact 4 it completes-provided the circuit is otherwise completed-a circuit which may be arbitrarily referred to as the A circuit and which is herein frequently referred to as an initial circuit. On the other hand, if the movable contact 3 of the initial switch is moved so as to engage the stationary contact 5 it completes-pro-' vided the circuit is otherwise completed-a circuit which may be arbitrarily referred to as the B circuit and which is herein frequently referred to as an initial circuit. The

initial circuits A and B of Figures 1 and 2 are the same and the description of one applies to the other. The sole difference in the constructions illustrated in these two figures is in the inclusion of the main circuit Y of F gure 2 which circuit is not found in Figure 1. I

If the parts of the main switch 2 occupy the dottedline position shown in either Figure 1 or in Figure 2, then the initial cir-' cuit A can be completed when the movable contact 3 engages the contact 4; if, however,

the main switch parts occupy the full line position shown in said figures, then the initial circuit A will not be completed, even though ductor 28, movable contact 6, stationary contact 8, conductor 47, coil 13, conductor 48,

connecting post 49, conductors 50, 51, connecting post 52, stationary contact 4 and movable contact 3 of the initial switch 1, connecting post 53, conductors 38, 39, 40, back to the other side of the electrical supply S.

The initial circuit 'B can be completed though the movable contact 3 comes into engagement with stationary contact 5- of the initial switch.

The initial circuit B is as follows:

Source of electrical supply S, terminal 24, conductors 25, 26, connecting post 27 con.- ductor 28, movable contact 6 of the main switch, stationary contact 7 conductor 54, coil 14, conductor 55, 56, 57 connecting post 58, conductors 59, 60, connecting post 61, stationar contact 5 and movable contact 3 of the initial switch, connecting post 53, 38, 39, 40, back to source of electrical supply S.

From what has preceded it will be manifest that each time the initial circuit A is completed the parts of the main switch 2 occupy the dotted line position and the completing of the circuit A at the initial switch results in the energizing of the coil 13 in a manner whereby the coil 13 serves as an electrical means for causing the movable members of the main switch to be moved from the dottedline position toward the full line position. As the movable members of the main switch reach an intermediate position there is an automatic disruption of the initial cir cuit A as well as the automatic disruption of the main circuitX, as previously described. The movable members of the main switch, however, acquire a certain momentum which tends to carry said members toward their final or full line position and the compression spring 10 previously described comes into play and effects or assists in effecting the rest of the movement.

If it is considered that the main switch 2 is controlling the X main circuit then the coil 13 may be referred to as a main switch opening coil since the energizing of said coil effects a movement of the main switch to a position where it opens the X main circuit.

When the initial circuit B is completed it effects an energizing of the coil 14 which causes a movement of the main switch parts viously described movement of the' same parts from the dotted line position to the full line position. As the main switch parts reach an intermediate position in their movew ment from the full line position to the dotted line position the initial circuit B is automaticallydisrupted and as previously stated when the movable contact member 6 reaches the final position indicated by the dotted line the X main circuit is closed. The coil 14 switch closing coil since the energizing of this coil 14 effects a movement of the main switch to a position where it closes the main circuit.

considered then the coil 13 might be referred to as the main switch closing coil whereas the coil '14 would be referred to as the main switch opening coil? In Figures 3 and 4 there are combined all the members constituting the main switch as well as the solenoids 13 and 14, the connecting posts 49, 58, 31, 27 and 42 and the desired electrical connections between the connecting posts, the solenoids, and the contacts of the main switch.

In Figures 3 and 4 a part of the electrlcal connections is in the form of fiat connecting strips of suitable conducting material. One

, of these strips is indicated by C and is defined by a-bc-de; another is indicated by D and is defined by f-g-hk and two Y otherstrips collectively are indicated by E and are defined by m-n and 0 -19. Terminal 47 of the coil of solenoid 13 is connected to strip G by wire F while terminal 48 of the coil of solenoid 13 is connected by wire G to the connecting post 49. Terminal 55'of the coil of solenoid 14 is connected by wire H to the connecting post 58, and terminal 54 of the coil of solenoid 14 is connected by wire K to the conducting strip D. Wire ,G corresponds to the wiring indicated in Figures 1 and 2. Wire F and a part of the conducting strip C provide the connection indi-' cated in Figures 1 and 2 between the terminal 47 and the stationary contact 8 of the main switch. The conducting strip C serves to connect the stationary contact 8 and the connecting post 31 which connection is indicated in Figure 1 by the line extending between stationary contact 8, point .30 and the connecting post 81. v

' The set of strips E provides the connection between the point 29 and the connecting post 27 of the movable contact member 6 and corresponds to the line 29, 28 and 27, of Figures 1 and 2. The wire K and a part of the flat connecting strip D provide the connection between one terminal 54 of the coil of the solenoid 14 and the stationary contact 8 of the main switch and correspond to the line indicated between terminal 54 and stationary contact 7 of Figures 1 and 2. The flat strip D also serves to connect the stationary contact 7 and the connecting post 42 and corresponds to the line between contact 7, 41 and 42 of Figure 2. The wire H connects the terminal 55 of the coil of the solenoid 14 with connecting post 58 and corresponding to the line extending from terminal 55 through 56, 57 to connecting post 58. i

It will therefore be seen that there is embodied in the apparatus shown in Figures 3 and 4 an operative construction which can be employed in an electrical system having. 'theessentials ofthe wiring diagrams illustrated in either Figure 1 or Figure 2.

If the Y main circuit werethe one being I From what has preceded it will be observed that the initial switch is included in a circuit which is closed for only an instant and until it positions a main switch which electrically operated mechanism M were in v the form of a solenoid or magnet, such solenoid or magnet could remain energized since the circuit remains closed. The rotary motor, or the solenoid or magnet M (or N) could be employed to control, operate or position any part desired. The part or apparatus ultimately operated or controlled by the electrically operated mechanism M may" be a relatively heavy part. It will be observed that such part is underthe indirect control of a relatively light initial switch which is in a circuit that is closed for only an instant.

It will also be observed that the circuit that includes the initial switch is not broken at the initial switch itself but that there is provided a means for automatically disrupting the initial switch circuit before the initial switch is itself opened and thus the initial switch is-not subjected to any objectionable sparking which might take place and be injurious to it, if the opening of this initial circuit were dependent upon the opening of the initial switch.

The improvements herein set forth-are not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described for they may be embodied in various forms and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of. the invention. 7

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a thermostatically-operated initial. switch, a main switch comprising a pair of fixed contacts and a movable contact, electrically operated means the circuit of which is controlled by said main switch, a pair of solenoids each being protrolled by said fixed and movable contacts,

and a spring having one end anchored and its other end attached to said contact member and positioned relatively thereto so as to throw said movable contact member past dead center when the movable. contact memher is actuated by said solenoid armature.

3. In combination, a thermostaticallycontrolled initial switch, a main switch comprising a pair of solenoids, each being provided with a winding the energization of. which is controlled by said initial switch,

acommon armature for said solenoids, a pivoted contact member slidably connected to said armature, a pair of stationary-contacts cooperating with said pivoted contact member, a plurality of electrically-actuated devices each of which is controlled by said fixed and movable contacts, and a spring having one end anchored and its other end connected 'to said pivoted contact whereby .said pivoted contact member when actuated to dead center position by said solenoid armature will be thrown past dead center and into engagement with oneof said fixed contact members to close the circuit of the winding of one of saidsolenoids to thereby actuate one-of the said electrically-actuated devices.

This specification signed and witnessed this 25th day of February, A. D. 1918.

CARL SCHWARTZ.

Signed in the presence of- .ORA C. MONTGOMERY,

H. N. DRAKE. 

